Gmonney From Canada, joined Jan 2001, 2082 posts, RR: 18 Posted (6 years 1 day 15 hours ago) and read 1268 times:
As you are all aware the Current Fleet of L-1011's are getting older and older by the minute. My recent ride on C-FTSW a -500 series led me to believe these birds are extremely old. I was talking to the pilots and they informed me that they were going to be getting rid of these aircrafts and they didn't mention what was going to replace them. Does anyone have any ideas or does anyone know what will be replacing them?
As well, they are phasing out the 757's. Could they be adding more A310's? or even A330's.
What is the long term goal for TS. Its seems with the current aircraft fleet, domestic runs will have to sell out in order to be profitable. I know for a fact that our flight to MCO on the friday before Christmas was 80 shy of a full load. To me thats unusual, when its a peek time to travel.
And Captiangomes.....don't tell me about the 777 untill its on paper please?
Grant
tdotphotography -- You know you are in tdot when all you do is photograph AC A320's!
Slawko From Canada, joined May 1999, 3790 posts, RR: 8 Reply 1, posted (6 years 1 day 15 hours ago) and read 1228 times:
HEHEHE Yeah Nuno why do you make things like that up all the time??? HEHE Well its not on paper, but a nubmer of different people in the company have said that it had been offered...and could be in the works....
"Clive Beddoe says he favours competition, but his actions do not support that idea." Robert Milton - CEO Air Canada
SafeFlyer From Canada, joined Jan 2001, 559 posts, RR: 5 Reply 2, posted (6 years 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 1181 times:
The load of 80 people surprise me very much, especially on a charter airline like TS.
Altough the -500 series might look old, the oldest bird was built in 1982 and so, is celebrating is 21st birthday this year. 2 or 3 of them have been built in 1984 and are in fact, younger than some of AC's B762.
There was a discussion lately based on pure speculation that they might get 763 and 777. But they've switch to Airbus. Why would they switch again and after a such short period?
I just hope they won't get...... I let you guess....... (Answ:A320s)
Vref From Canada, joined Jan 2002, 77 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (6 years 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 1173 times:
The only thing I have heard about their fleet is that they were going to be either all Boeing or all Airbus.
I think they were leaning toward Boeing, but that was over a month ago.
Remember! She will fly over gross but not out of gas!
Fpdonald From United States, joined Aug 2002, 430 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (6 years 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 1165 times:
I'm really not surprised that there were empty seats on an L1011 coming "to" Orlando for Christmas Day. More people leave Orlando to spend Christmas elsewhere in the US (and Canada) than actually vacation here. Tradition, I guess. December 26 is the day that people usually head down here, and mayhem takes over . . . or at least long lines.
Busiest still is Easter.
34F is tonight's supposed low . . . dang that Jet Stream!
Hmmmm... From Canada, joined May 1999, 2071 posts, RR: 5 Reply 7, posted (6 years 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 1124 times:
Quite often Christmas Eve flights, like New Year's Eve flights, do not totally sell out. 80 shy on an L-1011, in Air Transat seating, means that the plane's seats were all filled up, but there was still some room in the overhead bins, the aisles, and the lavatories.
Those planes may be old, but they are still perfectly airworthy. And they are paid for. That's why they keep them. They may burn more gas, and cost more to maintain, but considering they are, otherwise, free, they still end up being a sensible solution for a low-fare charter company like Air Transat.
On a similar note, the USAF still flies the B-52 bomber 50 years after the model entered service. The youngest B-52 in the fleet came off the assembly line in 1962. Yet, amazingly, the USAF plans to keep those newer B-52s flying for an additional 38 years. They do not plan on retiring them until the year 2041. By that time, it would not shock me to learn that the B-52 was to be replaced with the L-1011!
An optimist robs himself of the joy of being pleasantly surprised
Yyz717 From Canada, joined Sep 2001, 14964 posts, RR: 59 Reply 8, posted (6 years 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 1109 times:
I read somewhere recently that TS is evaluating fleet plans with a goal of operating a more uniform fleet...ie, all Boeing or all Airbus. It appears that both are in the running although it would seem that Airbus would have the edge with TS adding 330/310 equipment while removing 752 equipment.
The TS L15 fleet is not that old....they average about 20 years each....quite suitable for a low-yield charter carrier.
Personally, I think a mixed 752/753/763 fleet would be a better mix than a more expensive 320/332/333 fleet.
Lymanm From Canada, joined Jan 2001, 1119 posts, RR: 1 Reply 9, posted (6 years 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 1098 times:
I think that perhaps they should consider the VC-10. With 4 engines, they don't have to worry about ETOPs. I'm sure there are plenty of airframes available at a fraction of what A330s go for now. Plus, there would be a glut of pilots with previous VC-10 experience available; consider how many unemployed Brit pilots inhabit PPRUNE.com
Slawko From Canada, joined May 1999, 3790 posts, RR: 8 Reply 11, posted (6 years 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 1072 times:
Hehehehe Lymanm, have to take care of all the unemployed Canadian pilots first!!! Besides I hear the VC-10 glides like a brick, SO far I hear Airbus and Boeing are both neck in neck as both have proven to transat that they can Glide well, and I hear that is one of the leading decision making factors for their fleet plans
"Clive Beddoe says he favours competition, but his actions do not support that idea." Robert Milton - CEO Air Canada
Dash8king From Canada, joined Nov 2001, 2740 posts, RR: 20 Reply 14, posted (6 years 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 1045 times:
SO far I hear Airbus and Boeing are both neck in neck as both have proven to transat that they can Glide well, and I hear that is one of the leading decision making factors for their fleet plans
Captaingomes From Canada, joined Feb 2001, 6377 posts, RR: 60 Reply 15, posted (6 years 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 1024 times:
The 757's might be phased out, but that doesn't mean they can't get newer ones! The A310's are new to the fleet, but TS is very unhappy with them. The likely thing to happen is Transat getting rid of the A310's, and FedEx is interested in them anyways. I heard they are evaluating different aircraft types, including the 757, 767, and 777 from Boeing, as well as different Airbus models. They have the advantage of currently operating the A330, and having just received another one it would seem logical to focus on an all Airbus fleet. However things have changed in the past year substantially, and deals can now be found on aircraft such as the 777.
Only time will tell, but I'm hoping the L1011 will stay for a few more years!
"it's kind of like an Airbus, it's an engineering marvel, but there's no sense of passion" -- J. Clarkson re: Coxster
Spyderz From Canada, joined Apr 2001, 642 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (6 years 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 1019 times:
I think Airbus has a major advantage in this order not only due to the large amounts of Airbus products Air Transat already flies, but also the fact that the 330 could support most of Transat's operations. A mix of -200's and 300's could fly their large southern routes and be the perfect aircraft for Transat's expanding European operations. Some 320's would fit nicely on the thiner southern routes. Boeing alternatives of 757's, 767's, and possibly 777's just don't make as much sense for the airline. The 757 is a great and versatile aircraft, but I see it being too large for the airline on the thinner routes, and the 767's I feel don't have the capacity for many of Transat's European network. As for 777's, I just don't see them since they'll probably be too expensive for the airline compared to 330's.
On a side note, I saw on television an interview with Transat's boss in charge of Western operations that stated the airline might be interested in expanding into Asian operations in 3-5 years time. If the airline was serious about this, this factor could play a role in their fleet roll-over.
Fpdonald From United States, joined Aug 2002, 430 posts, RR: 0 Reply 17, posted (6 years 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 1021 times:
Only time will tell, but I'm hoping the L1011 will stay for a few more years!
I agree, it's getting to be a rare treat seeing the old gal in Orlando. With ATA down to five by the end of the year, and an infrequent visitor to MCO, it's getting to be a wide bodied Boeing haven!
Still, the L1011s are heading for major maintenance over the next few years. So sad.
Captaingomes From Canada, joined Feb 2001, 6377 posts, RR: 60 Reply 18, posted (6 years 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 1009 times:
Spyderz, from what I read (I forget where right now) the A330 is not that good for southern destinations. It is very large, plus it takes a long time to turn around, compared to a 757 or 767 for example. If TS decided to go all Airbus, they'd have the large capacity of the A330, then the low capacity of the A32X, with a big gap in between. Remember, the A310 might fill in that gap, but they've shown that they're not interested in the A310 anymore.
With Boeing, they could really have the 757 for the thinner routes, 767 for new routes across the Atlantic with lower passenger numbers, and also high capacity southern destinations. The 777 would of course be the large capacity aircraft used on the more popular routes. Transat had done well in the past without an aircraft in the A320 capacity, but of course even if they went all Boeing, they could easily go for the 737NG.
I'm very interested to see what develops in the next year at Transat!
"it's kind of like an Airbus, it's an engineering marvel, but there's no sense of passion" -- J. Clarkson re: Coxster
AF-A319 From United Kingdom, joined Oct 1999, 591 posts, RR: 3 Reply 19, posted (6 years 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 1004 times:
Here are the last Transat insiders's news:
The airline is currently in the process of negociating a new contract with its cabin crews. Nothing concerning the fleet change will be announced before the 2 sides come to an agreement.
According to my source, the L1011 will leave soon. Three ex VG Airlines A330s are currently parked at Dorval, and would be waiting for the agreement between TS and its employees before taking off to Mirabel and fly under the Transat flag.
Clickhappy From United States, joined Sep 2001, 8411 posts, RR: 66 Reply 20, posted (6 years 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 1002 times:
AIRLINERS.NET CREW PHOTO SCREENER
aren't most of their "southern" flights (what are these? SFB, LAS, PVR, MUCC) flown with either A310s or A330s? I never see 752s on these runs, except maybe from Toronto-Orlando on occasion.
I've been dating too. Nice girl, she's an author. She wrote the book on male sexual dysfunction. You've probably read it
USAFHummer From United States, joined May 2000, 10685 posts, RR: 56 Reply 21, posted (6 years 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 998 times:
AIRLINERS.NET CREW CHAT OPERATOR
Hmm...there was an A330 at FLL on Dec. 26...usually the 752 and L-1011 are seen down at FLL...guess they needed extra seats for relatives visiting the Canadian snowbirders...
Greg
Chief A.net college football stadium self-pic guru
Captaingomes From Canada, joined Feb 2001, 6377 posts, RR: 60 Reply 22, posted (6 years 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 986 times:
Clickhappy, the reason you don't see the 757 on southern routes is because they only have 1 or 2 in service at this time. The 757 was mainly used on southern routes when they had them all in service. It still remains an ideal aircraft for this sort of service. If they do go all Boeing, I'm sure they'd consider the 757-300. Given what AF-A319 said however, if he's right, Air Transat is leaning towards Airbus at this time.
"it's kind of like an Airbus, it's an engineering marvel, but there's no sense of passion" -- J. Clarkson re: Coxster
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